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Leg 5 of Peter van Kets and Jacques Marais’ Beyond Lockdown – Jozi

Leg 5 of Peter van Kets and Jacques Marais’ Beyond Lockdown, Beyond Expedition, took them to the City of Gold. After 9 days of back country travelling, they spent the 10th day exploring South Africa’s financial hub; Johannesburg.

“Imagine a city where graffiti wasn’t illegal, a city where everybody could draw whatever they liked. Where every street was awash with a million colours and little phrases. Where standing at a bus stop was never boring. A city that felt like a party where everyone was invited, not just the estate agents and barons of big business. Imagine a city like that. And stop leaning against the wall – it’s wet”. – Banksy

“I may know relatively little about graffiti, but that does not mean one cannot have an innate appreciation for street art” says Jacques Marias. “Two things made today’s, Isuzu South Africa, Beyond Lockdown mission special: firstly, it was an urban adventure, and secondly, it constituted an educational tour de force from Eelco Meyjes; on the Walls, Graffers, Taggers and Burners brightening the suburban Jozi landscape.”

“What a buzz to crank off from Fournos Bakery Group, dodging taxis and rush hour traffic, all while sniping along suburban streets in search of vibrant and larger-than-life works of art. As the world-famous Banksy says, ‘A wall is a very big weapon. It’s one of the nastiest things you can hit someone with’.”

Two African icons, one depicted by Sonny and the other constructed by Isuzu. Photo by Jacques Marais.

If you follow in the Beyond Expeditions team’s wheels you’re bound to be challenged, astounded and amazed. This ‘Johburg Street Gallery’ features world-famous artists like Falco, Paige33, Faith47, Nomad and the likes. Add to this a buzzy, zippy, fast-forward – and ultimately accessible ride – and hits you head-on. It’s an everyman urban adventure bound to blow your hair back. Both Eelco and his sweeper, Juno, are on eBikes, so you should feel free to plug into some battery-powered backup!

“This brings us back to why you need to support South African tourism (and yes, I’m harping on about this)” Marais reiterated. “You can change the lives of many thousands of people, dependent upon your contribution to the local economy, and this really is what our ‘Long Drive to support SA Tourism’ is all about.”

The team’s next destination for exploration, at which an exceptional 48 hours of adventures are planned, is Magoebaskloof. The Beyond Lockdown crew will be based at the Zwakala Brewery to bring you the story of South Africa’s northern-most craft brewery and the sad tale of how lockdown has them and their industry teetering on the edge. Stay tuned for all the stories. Keep following the Beyond Lockdown adventures on social media, as they continue their 9-province tourism tour, on the following channels:

Facebook: OutdoorZone.Africa

Instagram: @ozone.africa

Twitter: @OZone_africa

YouTube: Ozone Africa

Podcast: oZONE Podcast

Website: www.ozone.africa

Beyond Lockdown Concept:

The economic sectors suffering most under the yoke of lockdown are indisputably the Hospitality and Tourism Industry, with especially local tourism buckling under the strain of nearly four months of not being able to operate. Something needs to be done to help these small operators, especially those in the rural areas who have seen literally a 100% drop in income. We therefore plan to use BEYOND LOCKDOWN as a vehicle to travel to nine inspirational and off-the-grid destinations – one in each in South Africa’s nine provinces – and from our visit create an exhilarating story to draw people to these remote places.

Our focus will capture everything from Road Tripping, Conservation and Adventure, to the unique Characters found within these Moer-And-Gone communities in faraway places, and we believe the way to regenerate jobs and opportunities will be through creating crackerjack media exposure for these off-the-beaten-track destinations. Along the way, we will engage with colourful local characters to assist in creating engaging and unique content, and thus convince the general South African public to pack their vehicle and visit them as soon as travel restrictions are lifted.

Spending your Rands in South Africa is what will make a difference to these communities, and we want people to know that you can have world-class, unique and globally relevant travel experiences right here in Mzansi! Our expeditions always include some inspirational feats of human endurance, and this time around we want to take these adventures and weave them into the local folklore of the area … maybe it will be an endurance river swim in search of a mythical water serpent, or a dark-zone trek on the trail of a desert djinn, maybe an ascent up a snowy peak to confront your own inner guru …

Source: Seamus Allardice Media

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Built for: Dual Suspension Trail
Year launched: 2022